TO talk to the woman who combines motoring and acting and whose latest part is a “mum” I made a date with Doris Rogers. She switched on the ignition, put the car into first gear, released the handbrake and slid smoothly into the thick Manchester traffic.

“Lady drivers?” she said. “I think there’s a lot of nonsense talked about us. If you get a good woman driver, she’s better than a man. She takes more care.”

She pulled up gently at a zebra crossing to let a bunch of pedestrians across. Two male drivers in front of her hadn’t bothered. Doris lifted an eyebrow in my direction.

“I see what you mean,” I said, feeling that our sex had been let down rather badly.

On Thursday, in Granada’s Family Solicitor she plays a Yorkshire mum, whose daughters get into trouble with the law. With us in the car was one of her “daughters” in the play, Daisy Frisby, played by Diane Aubrey.

Driving is a passion with Doris Rogers. She uses her car extensively for her work and her busy social life.

“I’m thinking of taking the advanced driving test,” she said. “I enter rallies, you know — small ones.”

I posed a delicate question. “How long have I been driving?” she replied. “I shudder to think. I bought my first car in 1936, if that gives you a clue. It cost me £15. It was a magnificent two-seater.

“What bodywork! I used to be sore for weeks after a long drive. It was like trying to pull a bus round corners.

“I loved that car, though, I sold it eventually — for £7 10s.”

Since then Doris has had a succession of cars.

“My favourite car? I liked them all. I had one of the first baby cars in London. The buses used to terrify me. I was convinced they would run right over me. And then, of course, there were the London policemen. One told me he thought I was going to run up his sleeve!”

We passed the Manchester Albert Hall. “See that place?” asked Doris, never taking her eyes off the road.

“I remember being on stage there when I was about nine. Very odd. I was reciting poetry in French. I can’t imagine why. No one understood a word!”

Doris talked about the kind of drivers she hates: “I can’t stand those people who amble along at a snail’s pace, hogging the crown of the the road.

“Not, of course, that I’m a speed hog. I’m far too nervous to drive fast.

“My favourite drivers? Lorry drivers. Those are the real gentlemen of the road.”

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I ENJOY the Family Solicitor series very much and think it is fairly authentic. It shows the many and varied sides of a solicitor’s busy practice and the help the public can receive.

The episodes in Family Solicitor illustrate that the solicitor’s main concern is to render service rather than, as is so frequently thought to be the case, to increase his own charges.

Incidentally, I cannot resist saying that the office of “Naylor Freeman and Co” is certainly more opulent than most solicitors can afford.

A solicitor’s life is a hard but pleasant one. I noted that one of the partners in the firm apparently planned to take the afternoon off at short notice, but this is rare in these busy days in most offices in my experience.

The series also gives some idea of the friendly relations existing between colleagues within the same profession and that that in most offices of any size there is nowadays a good deal of specialisation such as in property, commercial or tax work and in court cases, depending on the nature of the practice.

It also demonstrates the care that solicitors lake in working up their cases and looking after their clients’ interests.

I have no doubt that viewers of this programme will learn something useful about the working of the laws of England.

One strong point already made clear to the public who saw these excellent stories was to indicate the danger of signing documents, or taking over businesses or buying houses without first seeking legal advice.

Seeing a solicitor in time often results in considerable financial saving, and it is much easier for a solicitor to keep a client out of trouble than, once in, to get him out of it.

The law affects us all in so many ways in everyday life, but when one thinks about it, one’s first thought is often of a court scene. Trials are a familiar and favourite subject on the television screen, but in real life this is only a small part of a solicitor’s practice. About 90 per cent of the work that lawyers undertake has nothing to do with the courts at all. Litigation is often the last resort.

It is the realisation of this fundamental truth on the part of the producer, director and scriptwriters of Family Solicitor tliat makes the series so fresh and true to life.

The programme tells viewers something of what the 20,000 solicitors — who form nine-tenths of the legal profession of the country and who alone come into direct contact with the public — do and how they help the ordinary man and woman, not only in trouble, but in dealing with the problems and questions of our complex, everyday life.

Family Solicitor is splendidly cast. A. J. Brown, Robert Flemyng, Bernard Horsfall, Geoffrey Palmer and Philip Grout perform difficult roles with understanding, and I am particularly pleased to see a prominent part well played by Mary Kenton as Ann Harvey, the woman partner, for the number of women in the law shows a steady and welcome increase.

The supporting staff combines to create the right atmosphere and to emphasise the personal touch so essential in helping clients.

This is a series which has something good for everybody and Granada are to be congratulated on staging such an entertaining and informative legal feature.

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MARY KENTON, who plays Ann Harvey, partner in that august, thorough, much respected and well-established firm of solicitors, Naylor Freeman and Co., is an intelligent, sympathetic woman who fits my image of a solicitor much more than that of an actress.

But the truth is that Mary is a professional artist. She loves and lives acting, and is as serious about her profession as any woman lawyer.

After a few minutes talking to her in her North London home, I realised that she approaches her part with an extraordinary sense of responsibility.

Over coffee, auburn-haired Mary told me: “This is a fascinating series for me if only because of what I have learned about the law.

“Before I joined the programme I knew nothing about legal procedure, and I was in awe of it. But since I have been working in Family Solicitor, I have put in a little study and have learned things that have been a revelation to me.

“There are so many points of law vital to us in everyday life that the public are not aware of, and when simplified and explained, as they are in the programme, these points can be of immense use and help.”

Mary, who is married to actor Gerard Heinz, has two children, enjoys reading, playing classical records and cooking. But, basically, her hobby is her job.

She said: “I have tried doing many things as a relaxation, but I always go back to my only real interest — acting.

“Because I thought I was getting rather limited I once took up pottery when I was out of work. But it was no good. I was no potter.

“What I really enjoy is having friends round and discussing theatre — not that I enjoy first nights and all the nonsense and ballyhoo.”

Mary came into the theatre in a most romantic manner. “It’s so romantic, it’s corny,” she said.

She was born in the English home of classical drama — Stratford-on-Avon. As a child she wanted to be a dancer, but being modest and self-critical, she made up her mind that she hadn’t the special talent to he a ballet dancer. “So,” she said, “I decided to become an actress

“As it was wartime and I had no chance of going to drama school, I decided to train myself. So I took my Shakespeare to a large empty house, and there, alone, I declaimed my favourite speeches to the bare walls.

“I did this every day for months, until one day I found that I had an audience. It was B. Iden Payne, then director of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, who heard my enthusiastic performance as he passed the house.

“He appeared tickled pink and offered me walk-on parts. I was overjoyed.”

Of the part of Ann Harvey, Mary said: “This is my first role in a series. Playing the same character in a number of situations gives me a chance to identify myself with the character

“After a few more programmes I think I will know how Ann Harvey will react in any circumstance; know her sympathies and methods of handling people.

“She loves her family life, but is also a career woman who is fascinated by her job, and has a tremendous respect and admiration for her father, the senior partner William Naylor.

“Ann is understanding and kind, and is the type of woman to whom I would feel confident to go for help.”

Mary’s 17 year old son, William. has followed her into show business. He has joined a circus.

She said: “I couldn’t be more delighted. He’s so happy.

“He looks after the performing dogs and helps put up and take down the big top. In his spare time he takes lessons in tumbling.

“He tells me that his lessons cost him £1 a week, but he reckons it is a good investment. I agree with him. There are not many careers you can learn for a few pounds.”

We ended our chat because Mary had an appointment with a woman solicitor at the Law Society. “I’m doing a spot of … er … research.” she said.

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